Claude: what to revise for Paper 2, by textbook chapter
After the real 2026 Paper 1: which think! Mathematics chapters to open first, which to work through next and which to just refresh, with printed page numbers, what to practise and recent Paper 2 questions.
Written 21 October 2026After the real 2026 Paper 1Textbook: think! Mathematics, 8th ed.
How to use this. Each card names the textbook chapter and printed pages to open, what to practise, and recent Paper 2 questions to try. The tiers are Claude’s judgement, combining how often a topic appears in Paper 2 with what the real Paper 1 left untested. They are revision priorities, not a prediction of exact questions, and a topic that was in Paper 1 can still return in Paper 2.
Revise first Tier A
High value for Paper 2: the skill is untested or only lightly tested in Paper 1, and it is a regular part of Paper 2.
1
Graphs of Functions and Graphical Solution
3A Ch 5 (printed pp 115–158); 4B §6.5–6.6
3 marks in P1 20269.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 9/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 asked only for a quadratic from its turning point (3 marks). Every skill above is untested.
- Revise
- Plotting a curve, drawing a tangent and reading its gradient, solving an equation graphically with a straight line, exponential graphs.
- Do this
- Plot a curve from a table, draw a tangent, find its gradient with units, then use a suitable straight line to solve a related equation.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q4; 2024 P2 Q4; 2025 P2 Q5
2
Quadratic and Fractional Equations
3A Ch 1 (printed pp 1–38); 4B §6.4
9 marks in P1 202610 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
Figures count equations and inequalities together.
- Why
- P1's equations were all linear (Q22 looked quadratic but its x² terms cancelled).
- Revise
- Solving by factorisation, formula and completing the square; forming a quadratic from a situation; rejecting a root.
- Do this
- Form a quadratic from a journey, area or work-rate, clear the fractions, solve with the formula and reject an invalid root with a reason.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q2; 2024 P2 Q1; 2024 P2 Q6; 2025 P2 Q1; 2025 P2 Q8
3
Matrices
4A Ch 4 (printed pp 141–172), especially §4.3–4.4; 4B §6.8
0 marks in P1 20262.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 5/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- No matrix question in P1. In 2016–25 matrices were in exactly one paper every year, so P2 is the likely home.
- Revise
- Order of a matrix, scalar multiples, addition, product (e.g. a 2×2 times a 2×1) and what each entry means.
- Do this
- Multiply a quantities matrix by a prices matrix, check the orders fit, and say what an entry of the answer represents.
- Past papers
- 2024 P2 Q2; 2025 P2 Q3
4
Trigonometry: Further and Applications
3B Ch 6 (printed pp 1–34) and Ch 7 (pp 35–64); 4B §7.3
6 marks in P1 20266.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 8/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 used only right-angled trig and bearings plus one obtuse sine.
- Revise
- Sine rule, cosine rule, area = ½ab sin C, angles of elevation and depression, bearings, three-dimensional problems.
- Do this
- Solve a non-right-angled triangle with the sine or cosine rule, then link a plan to an elevation triangle in 3-D.
- Past papers
- 2024 P2 Q5; 2025 P2 Q4; 2025 P2 Q6
5
Problems in Real-World Contexts
4B Problems in Real-World Contexts (printed pp 181–196)
0 marks in P1 202610 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- The last question of every Paper 2 since 2016. Its context cannot be predicted.
- Revise
- Multi-step problems: money, rates, a graph or table, then a justified decision.
- Do this
- Work a full problem, convert units, keep working to full accuracy, and write a one-sentence recommendation with a reason.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q9; 2024 P2 Q9; 2025 P2 Q9
Then work through Tier B
Regular Paper 2 content that Paper 1 only partly covered, or a smaller topic worth a drill.
6
Statistical Data Analysis
4A Ch 3 (printed pp 75–140): §3.1 cumulative frequency (p 76), §3.2 quartiles and IQR (p 89), §3.4 standard deviation (p 115); 4B §8.2
8 marks in P1 20264.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 covered box plots, a grouped mean and a standard-deviation idea, but no cumulative-frequency graph or SD calculation.
- Revise
- Cumulative frequency curves and percentiles, grouped mean and standard deviation, comparing two sets.
- Do this
- Read the median, IQR and percentiles from a curve and compare two data sets using the mean and the standard deviation in context.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q7; 2024 P2 Q7; 2025 P2 Q2
7
Probability of Combined Events
4A Ch 2 (printed pp 33–74); 4B §8.1
4 marks in P1 20265 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 had Venn and counters (Q19(b) used exactly two red), so this is not a fresh gap, but probability is in nearly every Paper 2.
- Revise
- Tree diagrams, possibility tables, with and without replacement, probability from a table or a graph.
- Do this
- Draw a tree for a without-replacement situation and find probabilities such as exactly two of three.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q7; 2024 P2 Q7; 2025 P2 Q2; 2025 P2 Q7
8
Vectors
4B Ch 5 (printed pp 1–60): §5.4 scalar multiples (p 30), §5.5 two other vectors (p 34), §5.6 position vectors (p 36), §5.7 applications (p 41); 4B §7.6
1 marks in P1 20261.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 7/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 had only a 1-mark translation.
- Revise
- Expressing vectors in a and b, section ratios, collinearity and parallelism, simple proofs.
- Do this
- Build a vector by routes, use a ratio on a line, and show collinearity by finding a scalar multiple.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q6
9
Arc, Sector and Radians; Similar Solids
3B Ch 8 (printed pp 65–102) and Ch 10 (pp 159–182); 2B Ch 11 (solids); 4B §7.4
8 marks in P1 20268.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
Figures count all mensuration.
- Why
- P1 tested an annulus and a cone from a sector (Q18, Q25) but not composite surfaces or similar-solid scaling.
- Revise
- Composite solids and exposed surfaces, spheres and pyramids, sector and segment area, radians, area and volume of similar solids.
- Do this
- Count only the exposed surfaces of a composite solid, and use squared and cubed scale factors on similar solids.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q3; 2023 P2 Q5; 2024 P2 Q8; 2025 P2 Q6
10
Coordinate Geometry
3A Ch 4 (printed pp 91–114); 4B §7.5 (pp 137–142)
5 marks in P1 20267.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 7/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 asked 5 marks (gradient, equation, distance); Paper 2 usually asks longer, linked parts.
- Revise
- Gradient, length, equation of a line, parallel and perpendicular lines, intersections, areas.
- Do this
- Find an equation and an intersection, then use it for an area or a ratio in a diagram.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q6; 2024 P2 Q3; 2025 P2 Q8
11
Number Patterns (sequences)
1A Ch 7, Number Patterns (earlier book); links to 3A Ch 1 for quadratic nth terms
0 marks in P1 20263.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 5/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- No sequence in P1. P2 had one in 3 of the 4 earlier years with none in P1, but not in 2024 or 2025.
- Revise
- nth term of a linear or quadratic pattern, a term question, a short algebraic proof.
- Do this
- Find the nth term, test whether a number is in the sequence, and prove a number-grid or consecutive-numbers result.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q8
Quick refresh Tier C
Already tested in Paper 1, low in Paper 2, or both. Keep ready; do not spend long here.
12
Properties of Circles
3B Ch 11 (printed pp 183–226); 4B §7.7
2 marks in P1 20261.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 5/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 used the centre-angle and tangent-radius ideas only.
- Revise
- Tangent angles, cyclic quadrilaterals, angles in the same segment, equal tangents.
- Do this
- Do one short circle-reasoning question and write the reason beside every angle.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q5
13
Congruence and Similarity Tests
3B Ch 9 (printed pp 105–158); 4B §7.2
5 marks in P1 20261.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 7/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 had 5 marks of similar triangles.
- Revise
- Congruence tests and proofs, similar-triangle reasoning.
- Do this
- Refresh the congruence tests and one proof layout; similar triangles were already tested in P1 (Q24).
- Past papers
- 2024 P2 Q8; 2025 P2 Q4
14
Indices, Standard Form and Compound Interest
3A Ch 3 (printed pp 51–88), including §3.5 compound interest (pp 73–77)
14 marks in P1 20262.7 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 9/10 P2s since 2016
Figures count numbers + finance.
- Why
- P1 had 11 marks of number work. P2 usually has 1–3.
- Revise
- Laws of indices, fractional and negative powers, standard form; compound and simple interest.
- Do this
- A quick refresher, plus one compound-interest question: P1 asked indices and standard form but no interest.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q1; 2024 P2 Q1; 2025 P2 Q2; 2025 P2 Q5
15
Algebra: Expansion, Factorisation and Fractions
2A Ch 3 and Ch 4 (earlier book); 2A Ch 6 algebraic fractions and formulae; 3A Ch 1 for quadratic factorisation
10 marks in P1 20264.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 10/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- Heavily tested in P1, and nearly every P2 uses it inside another topic.
- Revise
- Factorising, identities, algebraic fractions, changing the subject, a short proof.
- Do this
- Keep fluent. Algebra was 10 marks in P1 and appears inside longer Paper 2 questions as proofs and formula work.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q2; 2024 P2 Q1; 2025 P2 Q1
16
Percentage, Ratio and Proportion
1B Ch 8 (Percentage) and Ch 9 (Ratio and Rate); 2A Ch 7 (Direct and Inverse Proportions)
6 marks in P1 20266 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 9/10 P2s since 2016
Figures count percentages + ratio.
- Why
- Percentages appeared in 9 of 10 recent Paper 2s.
- Revise
- Reverse percentage, successive changes, ratio sharing, direct and inverse proportion, map scales.
- Do this
- A short mixed refresher. Percentages were used inside Q17 and Q27, so they were not absent.
- Past papers
- 2023 P2 Q1; 2024 P2 Q2; 2025 P2 Q3
17
Linear Inequalities
3A Ch 2 (printed pp 39–50); 4B §6.4
- Why
- Already tested in P1 (Q13).
- Revise
- Compound inequalities and listing integer solutions; representing them on a number line.
- Do this
- Keep ready: Q13 tested this.
- Past papers
- 2026 P1 Q13; 2023 P2 Q2(a),(b); 2024 P2 Q1(a)
18
Sets
4A Ch 1 (printed pp 1–32); 4B §6.7
3 marks in P1 20261.3 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 2/10 P2s since 2016
- Why
- P1 had sets (Q8). In 2016–25 sets were in exactly one paper every year, so Paper 2 is unlikely to repeat it.
- Revise
- Notation, Venn diagrams, counting with a Venn diagram.
- Do this
- A light refresher only.
- Past papers
- 2025 P2 Q7
19
Constructions and Polygons
1B Ch 11, Polygons and Geometrical Constructions (earlier book)
2 marks in P1 20262 marks a year in P2, 2023–25in 2/10 P2s since 2016
Figures count constructions + angles.
- Why
- Not in P1 2026; no construction in any Paper 2 in the last ten years.
- Revise
- Compass constructions, perpendicular bisector, polygon angle sums.
- Do this
- A short drill only: construction has never been in Paper 2 in 2016–25.
- Past papers
- 2025 P2 Q4
Page numbers are the printed numbers in the textbooks (the PDF page is a few pages later). Sections for the newer chapters are as printed in the textbook contents; earlier-book chapters (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) are given by chapter. Past-paper references come from the topic ledger behind the Analysis tabs. “Marks” are scaled to a 90-mark paper and each mark is counted once under one primary topic.